Elbvattre-tbuck



J H. ROSE.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1519.

INVENTOR, \Joki'z 17 Rose,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Dec. 23, i919.

.4 TTORNEY.

J H. ROSE.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. I919.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS; INVENTOR, WW Jo/I'm 1?. Rose,

A TTORNEY.

i To all whom it may concern:

JOHN H. nose, or norvonn, Massachusetts.

nLnvnrrne-rnucn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented tea. as, 1919,

Application filed May 7, 191a. Serial No. aaaaei.

Be it"known that 1, JOHN H. Rose, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Holyoke, in the-county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Elevating-Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trucks of the type known in the trade as elevating trucks. An object of the invention is to provide a truck which can be easily operated when the load is raised, and one that is so constructed that it can be automatically locked in its elevated position, and readily released or unlocked when the load is to be lowered.

In this class of trucks a main supporting frame is supported on wheels to permit its ready transportation along the door, .a second frame is pivotally connected to the main frame for vertical movements in relation to the main frame, operating mechanisms are associated with the handle for raising and lowering the second frame and means for automatically locking the second frame in its elevated position.

in use, the truck, when the second or upper frame is lowered, is pushed under skids on which the load to be raised is placed, the second frame is. then elevated to raise the load on the skids, the load is then transferred to another point or part of the room as desired, at which point the second or upper frame with its load is lowered and the truck again used to haul another load.

A feature of my present invention relates to the construction of the swivel head to which the operating handle is attached. Uther objects and features of my invention will be apparent from the following description, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5, showing the li" ting, locking and unlocking mech anism and with the elevating frame lowered.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the elevating frame raised and locked and with the. handle released from the elevating connecting devices.

Fig. 3 is a verticalv sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig.

2 showing the construction of the swiveled head and front supporting rollers Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the complete truck with the elevating frame lowered and Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of Fig. 5. Referring to the drawings in detail; the main supporting frame is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1 and the elevating frame as a whole by the numeral 2, rear sup porting wheels are indicated at 3 and 4t, which are secured to the axle rod-5 in the frame l, front supporting wheels are indicated at 6 and 7, which are supported in the swivel truck frame 8 that turns in a yokeshaped piece 9 that spans the distance between the front ends of the lower frame, the downwardly extending ends of which are secured to the front ends of the side bars 10 and 11 of the main frame, as indicated at 12 and 13. 'fhe upper surface of this the yoke-shaped piece is provided with a rib or flange let having cars 15 between which the foot lever. 16 which releases the locking latch is pivoted. Depending-from the upper part tions 17, other and otally mounted on this pin for swinging movements laterally of the truck is a block 19 having a dependin piece 20 in which is supported the axle r021 on the outer ends of which are secured the wheels 6 and 7 of the truck. The upper part of the yoke member 8 has an upwardly projectin cirand extending from one to the 'cular part 22 which serves as a pivota pin and connecting means between the yoke member 9 and the truck 8, whereby the truck 8 with the wheels 6 and 7, can revolve completely around in the yoke shaped memher 9. it will also be observed that the wheels 6 and 7 and the block 19 can turn in a vertical plane on the pin 18, as she in Fig. 3, where the wheels '8 and 7 are indicated as passing over an obstruction indicated by the dotted line 23, or in other words, the wheels of the forward end of the truck are so mounted as to have sub stantially a universal joint movement.

. ferring to the means foroperating the upper or elevatin frame 2, this frame is connected to the fieme it by means of the of the yoke 8 are parallel projecsecured thereto is a pin 18. FivilFF ' upper and lower links 24 and 25, which are located at the forward end-of the frame 2 and the links 26 and 27, which are located at the rear end of the frames 1 and 2. These links are of the same length and are pivoted. together at their inner ends, as

portions of the side .bars of the frame 2,

. and the links 27 are cast with the rod 27 frame 2 to fall down onto the frame 1.

-which is pivotally mounted in the-side bars of the lower frame'l. 7 The rods which connect the inner ends of the links 24 and 25 and 26' and 27 are also connected together for simultaneous operation bymeans of the bar 37 which'will be described. The links constitute what may be termed knuckle-joint structures between the frames 1 and2. v

29 designates oppositely disposed links which -are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the frame 2 and at their lower ends to the frame 1. These links serve to maintain the arallelism between the two frames during t eir upward and downward movements and also to cause the upper or elevating frame 2 to move vertically into its extreme upward position as otherwise the links 24,25, 26 and 27 would turn independently of each other, which would permit the 30 designates the lever or handle by means of which the truck is drawn along the floor and also by means of which the frame 2 is elevated. This handleis pivoted to the pivot or swivel part 22 of the truck frame 8 as indicated at 31. It is formed with a notch 33 is a U-shaped ring-like member that passes around the lever 30 and is formed with a forwardly extendingportion 34. Attached by means of the pin 36 to the inwardly' extending ends 33 of the member 33 is a link 35. This-link is pivotally connected to thelink 36, which in turn is pivotally connected to the bar 37 at the pivotal'point 38. This bar extends rearwardly of the machine and is connected to the rods 28 and 39. Alsoattached to the rod 28 is a latch 41 having a -downwardly extending portion 42 and an inclined forward edge part 43.

Between the portions 42 and 43 1s a recess 44. The locking latch- 41 is connected at its forward endto a link 45, which in turn is connected to .the foot piece'l6. 46 is a fixed bar passing transversely of the frame 1 and rigidly secured thereto and with which the recess 44 of the latch 41 engages ment with the recess 32 of the handle. then pulls the handle forward in the direcwhen the elevating frame 2 is in its raised tion of the arrow indicated at 47. As this lever is moved forward the links 33, 35, 36 and bar 37 pull on the bars 28 and 39, causing the links 24, 25, 26 and 27 to assume the nearly vertical.position shown in Fig. 2. As the frame 2 rises and moves forward, the latch 41 by reason of the inclined edge 43 slides over the locking bar 46 until the recess 44 engages the same. This latch holds the frame ;2elevated as readily understood. The operator then moves the handle lever 30 rearward allowing the ring 33 'to fall into the position shown in Fig. 2.

The swivel truck 8 in which the wheels 6 and 7 are mounted, is now free to be turned in any direction for drawing the loaded truck about the room. When it is desired to lower the frame 2, the operator presses downward onthe forward part 16 of the lever 16, whereby the latch link 41 is raised and unlatched from the bar 46 permitting the frame 2 to go back by gravity. In order to prevent the frame 2 from descending too rapidly, a cushion device is provided which comprises a cylinder 48 shown in Fig. 5, which is preferably filled with oil and against which a piston therein operates and which is connected by means of the rod 49 to the rod 28. When the frame 2 reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, the parts are then readyto receive and unload and the same operations are repeated.

In order to prevent the wheels 3 and 4 from being injured plates 50 with inclined edges 51 are provided. Also attached to the frames 1 and 2 has the effect as the links 24, 25, 26 and 27 straightenout of materially increasin the leverage. I

It shou d be particularly observed that by reason of the swivel structure shown at the forward end of the truck that the apparatus is always in alinement, or in other words in case of any unevenness of the floor or other support, all of the wheels will have a hearing as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, where thetruck wheels 6 are tipped and in engagement-with the obstruction 23. Or in other words the truck as a whole will be maintained in a position that is substantially ill parallel with the supporting surface and lflndependent of any great unevenness of the oor.

ft will also be observed that the operating handle is only connected to the lifting platform during the lifting operations. At all other times it is free to turn the forward truckmember in any direction for steering and guiding the truckas a whole. By employing the knuckle-joint structure for connecting the frames and which comprises two rigid U-shaped members, as shown in Fig. 5, the integral arms 24 and 25 of which are connected together by means of the common pins 28 and 39 and the draw bar 37 which is connected to these pins the elevating frame 2 will be raised and lowered uniformly over its whole surface. That is to say, there will be no swaying or sidewise movement. In addition the links 29 are used to constantly maintain the parallelism between the frames to prevent one end from accidentally dropping down.

it will be observed that the knuckle-joint arms 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the knuckle-joint structure provide increased leverage since the bar 37 is connected to the-rods 28 and 39, thus producing a double leverage efiect on each pair of knuckle joint structures. lhat is to say, the leverage arms extend from the centers of the rods or portions 24 and 25' to the line of draft assing through the median line of the bar 3 from the rods 28' and 29.. The same double arm leverage efi'ect is present from the centers of the rods 26 and 27 to the bar 37.

What if claim is:

1.. In an elevating truck, a main frame, an operating handle, wheels. for supporting the main frame, an elevating frame, knuckle-joint structures for pivotally connecting the two frames, a rod connecting said knuckle-joint structures, and means for operatin the elevating frame from the handle,,including a member for engaging the handle, and link connections between the said handle engaging member and the elevating frame, means for retaining the. elevating frame in an elevated position in- J eluding a hook extending forward of the knuckle-joint structure connecting rod, and which is operated by the elevating frame, and whichautomatically engages a arton the main frame when the elevating rame is in uppermost position to revent the elevating frame from moving eyond its elevated position. I n 2. A truck for the purpose described, comprising. a main frame, a handle con nected thereto, an elevating frame, knucklejoints for supporting the elevating frameand connected to the main frame, means including a member engaging the handle for ltd operating the elevating frame from the handle, means including a hook for retainof a main frame and an elevating ing the elevating frame in its elevated position, means for unlocking or releasin the elevating frame comprising a lever des1gned to be operated by the foot of the operator,

adapted to temporarily engage the handle bar, connectin means between the pivotal points of sai joint structures, means including a hook having a stop-dog part for preventing said elevating frame from moving beyond its raised position and for retaining the elevating frame in said position, and means for releasing said frame, as described.

d. In an elevating truck, a main support ing frame, wheels at the forward and rear ends of the same, an elevating frame, knuckle-joint structures for connecting the frames together, a handle, between the handle and theelevating frame,

means for locking the elevatinglframe in its elevated position comprising a col: member connected to and movable with the elevating frame and having a recess and stop-dog portion to engage a rod on the main frame,

and a lock releasing lever on a part of the main frame and connected to the lochng means, ated by scribed.

5. In an elevating truck, a main frame, a swivel wheeled truckstructure for supporting the forward end of the main frame, a yoke connecting the forward ends of the main frame, and in which the forward swivel wheeled truck operates, an operating handle connected to the swivel wheels, an elevating frame mounted on the main frame and connected to said handle, transversely located rods in the frames, lmuckle-joint structures connected to the rodsand to each other, connecting means between the rods and the otpe'rating handle for raising the elevating rame,

the foot of the operator, as devating operations and-to e free rom such engagements during thetime the truck is drawn along the floor.

6. In an elevating truck, the combination, frame, means for connecting the frames together comprising lmuckle-joint structures, means for constantly maintaining the parallelism of the frames, stop means for limiting the upwardmovement of the elevating frame,

connecting means Hill said lever being designed to be operfill said connecting means being so constructed to have engagement with the operating handle onl durin the ele' ran an operating handle, and means for connect- I'm ing the handle and elevatingframe only during the elevating operations, but leaving 4 the handle free at other times.

8. In an elevating truck, the combination, of a main wheel-supported frame, a frame movable toward and away from said frame,

knuckle-joint structures connecting the frames, a bar connecting the knuckle-joint structures, an operating handle, connecting means between the movable frame and the handle, and a link connecting the frames.

for maintaining constant parallelism between the frames during the movements of the movable frame.

9. In an elevating truck, the combination, of a main wheel supported frame, an elevating frame, knuckle-jointstructures pivaaaaeea 'otally connecting the frames, an operating and steering handle, connecting means between the handle and the elevating frame,

,means for automatically locking the elevatoperator.

'10. In an elevating truck, the combination, of a main frame, an elevating frame,

knuckle joint structures for pivotally connecting the frames and for maintaining a rigid and supporting device at the upper corners of the elevating frame, pins connecting the arms of the said jolnt structures, a draw bar connecting the pins, and operating handle, and connecting means between the bar and the handle, whereby the elevating frame will be raised and lowered and constantly maintained in a plane that is parallel to the main frame, as described.

- JOHN H. ROSE. 

